Terlingua Trails, vol. 19, no. 1 (January 2006), By Editor and Publisher Doug (Bucky) Seelig, and printed through the Kerrville Daily Times for CASI (Chili Appreciation Society International), small tabloid monthly, 28 pages, many b&w photos. Price: Annual membership, individual $15, international $30, Corporate $100, and Lifetime $225.

CASI, http://www.chili.org, rightfully lords it over chili making events. For those not yet acquainted with the world of CASI chili cooks and cook-offs, they are great social and culinary events. The proceeds typically go to selected charities and scholarships. The gatherings can include hundreds of folks, many with RVs who convoke for one to a few days to cook and palaver. The present editor once conducted a “Chili Poetry Contest.”

News from the officers generally focus on organizational matters and proper procedure (yes, there are hierarchies, qualifications, rules, points and awards). Folksy news intersperses. The bulk of the space is devoted to announcing winners of previous cook-offs (about 75 events recorded, at press time, for October through December 2005, more will follow in next issue) and planned cook-offs (about 175 events recorded, at press time, for January though October 2006, more will follow in next issue.) The several winners of each are cited by category (cooks and showmanship), placement level, personal name, and town/state. The planned events cite date, town, sponsoring Pod (that’s chapter), location and driving instructions, type (e.g., “Chili Grind Only”), associated affairs (e.g., Fish Fry hosted by the local school, Saturday raffle), contact person (often the name, phone, and email), time, set-up and parking particulars, etc. The Great Peppers (the vaunted leaders) are known to bemoan improper information and missed deadlines. The championship is held in November at Terlingua, Texas. Sometimes confused with the ICS which is a different chili.

See also: The Goat Gap Gazette at http://www.goatgap.com/ , Chili Hot News at http://www.chotnews.blogspot.com/ , International Chili Society at http://www.chilicookoff.com/ .